Viper

Thanks to all for the good comments! I've been really busy since I got back and haven't had a chance to put a tape on it. I'll post what I come up with, but I'm not experienced in measuring a rack. Any suggestions on where to take it for official scoring? I think Sportsman's Warehouse is have an event for scoring racks.

Thanks Joe. It was nice meeting you too....really friendly guy! Any luck yet?

Were they empty, or still loaded? They were empty. It looked like where they did an exchange. I did notice something that I've not seen before. The old packs had all the empty water bottles and food wrappers inside them. Are the drug runners going "green"?!

Update: I took the rifle out last weekend to verify it is fixed. No problems at all through the whole shooting session. I feel a lot better about having a "safe" rifle in my hands. The trigger is set at 3 lbs now. It's a little heavier than it was, but still feels good and crisp.

It's been several years since I've hunted that area. There is a large, old burn area along FR300, east of FR95 (Fred Haught Ridge). It is 1/4 - 1/2 mile of open burn between FR300 and the Rim edge, for a couple miles. It used to be, if you were the first one in the morning to drive that stretch of FR300 you'd see a lot of elk, and some deer. Eventially, they bail off into the canyons on the north side of the road. This location is about 10 miles from FR141/300 junction. I think you have the same scenario if you go west from FR300/141....large open burn area along the Rim. I don't recall how far it is. Gotta be the first one there though.

That's cool! Love to see a picture. By your handle I assume you hunt Bellota Ranch area in unit 33. We used to hunt there. Missed a 100+ buck one year. It got pretty crowded with other hunters, so we moved on. Brad

We will be scouting/shooting in 22 on Sunday. Usually on the 201 road. We'll be in a maroon chevy pickup or crew cab Ranger. If you see us, say hi. Brad

How do you guys do this every year?! I'd have trouble scraping together money for one short hunt. I'd love to go, but it's a lot of money....from what I've heard, around $5000. Am I off base, or is this accurate?

Sounds like a good time, but wrong side of town...can't swing it anyways on a weekday. Thanks for the invite!

My first coues was around 1985, on an any antlered deer hunt in unit 23. We camped up on the bluffs above Roosevelt Lake. I lugged around my father-in-laws heavy old JC Higgins.30-06 for the first day. We didn't do any glassing back then, just a lot of walking. That thing wore me out, so the next day I carried my Marlin .30-30....much lighter. I walked up to the top of a juniper covered hill. When I got to the top, I had to "answer natures call". After taking care of business, I walked out into an opening and there stood a doe and spike. The doe ran into the trees and the spike "hid" behind a tiny little 3 foot stick-tree at 40 yards. I shot and he dropped where he stood. At camp, I skinned him and hung him in a tree, with the head on. Late that afternoon, my buddy and I went to Young to buy ice, leaving his Dad and little brother at camp. We got a little "tangled up" at the Antlers Bar until late in the night. We actually joined in the annual Halloween party....great time. I think I was part of a mock shotgun wedding...at least that's what the poloroid picture showed. We got back to camp around 1:00am.....I think we forgot the ice...or maybe it was melted...don't quite remember. The Dad and brother had taped small branches to the deer's spikes to make it look bigger. We had a good laugh at that one. I left them on when I took the deer to the processor, downtown Mesa....mighta' been Southwest, before they moved to Queen Creek...different name though. I got some real suspicious looks and finger pointing, until they caught on...then they all had a good laugh. It was a little spike, but probably the most memorable hunt.

I don't know if mine is the X-mark trigger or the older style. I believe it's a 2006 model. It's the XCR, which came out in 2005. I like the performance of it....just have to take it out this weekend to verify it is safe. It sounds like regular trigger maintenance/cleaning is important to prevent this from happening again. How do you clean a trigger assembly, without taking it apart, if possible?

Thanks for the reply. That's reassuring. I like the trigger, just can't have a safety issue.

My .270 shoots the Remington Core Lokt PSP, 130 grain really well. The bullet performs well under 300 yards. I realize the BC is low (.336), but they are low cost and easy to find. After this season, I may try the Accu Tip Boat Tail...BC is .447

The reviews say they have problems with the electronic lock and the shelving is poor quality. Anyone have experience with this particular safe?

My Midland's are about 5 years old. I can turn off all beeps/noises. They also have the call-vibrate feature, which is great for silently calling your partner. I've had great luck with Midland. FYI - the "Bubba" model did not have the call-vibrate feature last time I checked.

Val Vista & Southern. A meet-up would be great!

Great bull Tony!! That's gettin' r done!! Brad

I am new to the trail cam game. I bought a Covert from Jeremy a few weeks ago. I hung it in my elk area 2 weeks ago, in a somewhat random spot and captured a few subjects. I think this new "hobby" will be fun. I think the second one is a cow elk really close to the camera. I hope to get a crack at this bull in a couple days (last pic). He is a 6x7.

Val Vista and Southern. Love to meet up sometime...after elk season. - Brad

If you decide to sell it, let me know....

Dang!! I have been looking at those. I hesitated to buy another $500+ tent. I wanted a wall tent that sets up quick for weekend trips. I already have the Cabelas Alaknak 12x12, but it takes too long to set up just for a weekend. I ended up buying a Coleman Instant Tent on sale. Really fast set up, decent quality. Not sure how weather "proof" it is. Congratulations...you got really lucky!

Another idea for attaching your rifle to a pack frame - I used to use an old aluminum frame backpack that I modified into a pack frame. I mounted a rubber mag light holder (the one that holds a D-cell mag light) to the side of the frame, near the bottom. The pistol grip of most rifles will snap right in and hold well. On this frame I had to cut the top cross bar off so I could sling the rifle over the upright peg. I actually mounted that cross bar to the bottom of the frame, between the verticals, to form a meat shelf. It worked very well, but the old pack is not very comfortable with an elk-sized load on it. It has been replaced by the new high-tech stuff. It currently hangs in my garage and still has a apecial place in my heart.

+1 for the Kelty Cache Hauler. I went through this delema a couple years ago. I actually bought four different packs, one at a time, brought them home and loaded them up with all my gear. You can tell pretty quick if they fit you right, and handle all your junk by wearing it around the house for a while. I tried the Eberle J104 and X1. Great packs, but the lumbar pad made my low back hurt right away (I have some low back issues). I also didn't like the way the load is carried away from your back, due to the rifle scabbard. I tried the BL 2200. That pack is very comfortable, but there were a few things I didn't care for. I was also concerned about the bad press on the zippers. The last pack I brought home was the Kelty Cache Hauler. I got it at Sportsmans for $100. It's light weight and very comfortable. I like the "batwing" style compression system. I pack a small Camelback on it for water and gear, and a small fanny pack with field dressing gear. I took the top crossover bar off so it just has the vertical upright sticking up like a peg on both sides. I sling my rifle on this and snap the stock into the "Gunslinger" that is attached to the belt. This setup gives you options after packing into your hunt area. You can stash the frame and just use the camelback, or go real light and just use the fanny pack. I haven't tried an overnighter yet, but I'm sure it can handle it. There is a pack bag made for it....if you can find it. Last year I bought an Eberle X2 (before the new version came out). It was a "smoke damage" sale, so it was a good price. This is a great pack which I use a lot for scouting and archery hunts. I just bought the rifle scabbard that was listed on this sight by PJM. I will be trying that out this October. It's hard to find one perfect pack...so you have to own several

I have no doubt the range snap will work on my bull hunt....just hope me and the rest of my gear works at the moment of truth. I really like mine. Great idea.

This morning I saw on Facebook that Eastman’s (of Eastman’s Bow Hunting Journal and Eastman’s TV) is requesting pictures of live coues bucks for a feature story. Quote: “Have a great photo of a live Coues' buck you'd like to see in the magazine? If so, shoot it over to us at editorial@eastmans.com. We might be looking for one for a feature story design.” I think there is some great material from forum members!